Still billed after losing the login? Cancel without the app account
Deleting the app or forgetting the login does not stop Apple or Google Play billing. Match the statement (APPLE.COM/BILL, GOOGLE, or a company name), recover the account on that receipt, then cancel in that store’s subscription list. For Apple: search email for “receipt from Apple,” note the Apple Account, reset at iforgot.apple.com if needed, then cancel in Settings → Subscriptions or on the web (Apple Support: Cancel a subscription; Forgot password). For Google Play: switch Google Accounts until Subscriptions shows the plan—even if the app is gone—then Cancel subscription (Google Play Help).
Merchant-billed plans use the company’s password-reset and billing pages, not Apple Settings (Apple Support: not billed through Apple). Guidance checked 2026-10-18.
The cancel control lives with whoever bills you—not inside a reinstalled app. Recover the account on the receipt first; guessing menus on a new login usually fails.
Who bills you
| Who bills you | Where to cancel | Official help |
|---|---|---|
| Apple (APPLE.COM/BILL) | Recover Apple Account → Settings / account.apple.com → Subscriptions → Cancel | Cancel; Forgot password; Account recovery expectations |
| Google Play (GOOGLE on statement) | Switch Google Accounts → Play Subscriptions → Cancel (app uninstall does not cancel) | Fix problems; Cancel |
| Merchant website (company name) | Password reset on that site → account / billing → cancel | Apple: not billed through Apple |
Recover access, then cancel on the real biller
Identify who still bills you
- Open the bank or card line: APPLE.COM/BILL, GOOGLE on the statement, or a company name.
- Search email for matching receipts (“receipt from Apple,” “Google Play,” or the merchant’s billing mail).
If Apple bills you but you cannot sign in
- On the Apple receipt, note which Apple Account (email or phone) was used (Apple Support).
- Reset the password with a trusted device or at iforgot.apple.com (Apple Support: Forgot password).
- If you cannot reset, start account recovery; Apple Support says the wait can take several days or longer and Support cannot shorten it (What to expect during account recovery).
- After you can sign in: Settings → your name → Subscriptions → Cancel Subscription, or cancel via Apple’s web flow (Apple Support).
iPhone or iPad once you can sign in (App Store billing)
- Open Settings on your iPhone or iPad and tap your name at the top.
- Tap Subscriptions.
- Tap the subscription.
- Tap Cancel Subscription (or Cancel Free Trial), then confirm.
- Deleting the app never stops Apple billing.
If Google Play bills you but you lost the app login
- The Google Account that paid may differ from the email you use inside the app (Google Play Help).
- In Play Store, switch accounts until Subscriptions lists the plan; cancel there even if the app is uninstalled (Google Play Help).
- Check family members’ Google Accounts if the plan still does not appear.
Android once you are on the right Google Account
- Open the Google Play Store app and tap your profile icon (top right).
- Tap Payments & subscriptions > Subscriptions.
- Select the subscription.
- Tap Cancel subscription, pick a reason and confirm.
- Uninstalling does not cancel Play billing.
If a company name (not Apple or Google) is on the statement
- Use that company’s “forgot password” flow, then open account / billing / subscription settings to cancel.
- Apple cannot cancel or refund purchases it did not bill (Apple Support).
How to confirm it worked
You're done when:
- You signed into the account that appears on the receipt.
- Apple, Google Play, or the merchant shows the plan ending (will not renew).
- You saved a confirmation screenshot or email.
Sources: Apple Support; Google Play Help.
Common problems
- Only reinstalled the app with a new email. New logins do not cancel the old store subscription.
- Wrong Apple Account on the receipt. Family members must cancel their own Apple-billed plans (Apple Support).
- Waiting on Apple account recovery. Contacting Apple Support does not shorten the wait (Apple Support).
- Uninstalled but still billed on Play. Cancel in Play Subscriptions (Google Play Help).
- Merchant plan hunted only in Apple Settings. External purchases cancel with the developer (HT118126).
What we checked
Verified on official Apple and Google Help (October 18, 2026): receipt / other-account / contact-company routing on HT118428; password reset and iforgot path on HT102656; account recovery wait (Support cannot shorten) on HT118574; non-Apple billing on HT118126; wrong-account, missing subscriptions, and uninstall-still-billed on answer/9818348; Play cancel on answer/7018481.
Not verified - left out: brand-specific “close account” scripts; promising same-day Apple recovery; claiming carriers can always cancel Apple Music without carrier support.
Forgot which email is the Apple Account
Apple Support: try email addresses or phone numbers you regularly use; check Settings → your name → Sign-In & Security on a device that is still signed in (If you forgot your Apple Account email or phone).
Related guides
Unrecognized subscription charge · Still charged after cancel · No cancel button · Cancel iPhone subscriptions · Cancel Google Play subscriptions.
Frequently asked questions
I deleted the app—why am I still charged?
Google Play Help: uninstalling does not cancel the subscription; cancel in Google Play Subscriptions. The same idea applies to Apple-billed plans—cancel in Apple Subscriptions.
Can I cancel Apple subscriptions on the web without my phone?
Yes. Apple Support documents canceling from the web and from account.apple.com-style flows when you can sign in (HT118428).
How long is Apple account recovery?
Apple Support: several days or longer; Apple Support cannot shorten the wait (HT118574).
Will CostToCancel reset my password?
No. We only publish guides. Use Apple, Google, or the merchant’s official recovery pages. Corrections: [email protected].